Health & Fitness

Deborah Hutchinson, PhD, LAc is an NCCAOM® certified acupuncturist practicing in downtown Lexington, KY.

She completed a 3-year Masters-level acupuncture program at the former Maryland Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Bethesda, MD), which included a year of Chinese herbal medicine training as well as study in China at a summer acupuncture course at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in 2002. She has a doctorate in Anthropology from the University at Buffalo where she studied the transnational flow of Chinese Medicine and conducted ethnographic fieldwork at the European Institute of Oriental Medicine in Munich, Germany. She completed a 2-year post-doctoral fellowship in patient safety at the VA Medical Center in Lexington, KY. She currently is a part-time instructor for the Department of Medical Behavioral Science at the University of Kentucky, where she is a behavioral science preceptor for first-year medical students.

I began my study of Chinese medicine in the late 1980's. I was first drawn to the vast richness and depth of Chinese medicine through my practice of classical martial arts. Over the decades, I learned various methods of hands-on therapies for the treatment of injuries that would occur during training. I also learned how herbal medicine has been safely and effectively used for millenia to support athletic training. After completing my undergraduate degree and working for a few years as a translator I realized my true calling was in the study and practice of Chinese Medicine.


I received my Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in 2001 and completed a sports medicine and orthopedics internship treating collegiate athletes at the University of California, San Diego. After obtaining my California State Acupuncture license in 2002, I began to actively study Classical Chinese Medicine under Dr. Jeffrey Yuen, an 88th generation Daoist physician and priest. I continue to study with Dr. Yuen to this day with the belief that it is my responsibility to keep growing as a physician for the sake of my patients. The rich tradition that Dr. Yuen teaches has allowed me to successfully help many patients with difficult neurological complaints, autoimmune disorders and a wide range of functional diseases.

I have personally experienced the shortcomings of the conventional medical system which primarily focuses on the suppression of symptoms and the disempowerment of patients. This motivated me to devote my practice to empowering my patients to take back control of their health and break free from their dependency on medications.

I use a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutraceuticals, tui na, qi gong, and dietary therapy integrated with functional medicine (customized lab work) to decipher the mystery of each unique patient. Although it is a challenging path, I find it immensely rewarding and cannot imagine doing anything else.


I have practiced and taught classical Chinese martial arts and health practices in the US and internationally for decades. A student at heart, I spend much of my free time reading or thinking about how to be a better physician for my patients. My goal is ultimately to help unlock the miraculous healing capacity that is contained in every individual.


Since beginning my practice in 2002 I've worked closely with many primary care doctors, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists and gasteroenterologists to provide heart-felt care to thousands of patients.

We are dedicated to provide personalized services through Acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine to promote better health and to improve the quality of life. We strive to integrate the best medical knowledge of both the East and the West to meet the treatment and prevention needs of our patients.

We have excellent expertise and track records for Pain Relief, Allergy & Asthma, Migraine Headaches, Infertility, Hormonal balancing, Weight Control, Depression & Anxiety, Cosmetic Acupuncture Facial Lift, Arthritis, Smoking Cessation and more.

There is a natural alternative to treating children! Very successful at treating Pediatric and Adolescent Conditions, including Allergy, Asthma, ADHD, Tourette's Syndrome, Digestive Issues, Puberty and Growth Issues, Anxiety, Depression and more.

We also have an office in Lyndhurst, NJ at 360 Ridge Road within Meadowlands Chiropractic Center.